Trunnion Strength Calculation

Trunnion supports are one of the most frequently used pipe supports in process piping industry. In this
support type, you have to simply weld a pipe (normally one or more size less than the parent pipe to which
it is to be welded) with the parent pipe. However the load bearing capacity of this supports are not
comparable to civil supports. So, it is a must to check the weld point from failure viewpoint and investigate
the ability to carry the piping load (mostly the tangential and longitudinal load and corresponding moment).

Factors affecting load carrying capacity:

Parent pipe and trunnion/dummy pipe diameter: With increase in pipe size the load carrying
capacity increases.

Parent pipe thickness: With increase in pipe thickness the load carrying capability increases.

Parent pipe material: With increase in parent pipe material allowable strength (Sh) the load
carrying capability increases.

Design temperature: With decrease in design temperature the load carrying capability increases.

Parent pipe corrosion allowance: With decrease in corrosion allowance the load carrying
capability increases.

Design pressure: With decrease in design pressure the load carrying capability increases.

Trunnion/dummy pipe height: With decrease in trunnion height the load carrying capability
increases.

Steps for Trunnion Checking:

First of all run the static analysis in Caesar II to obtain the load values at trunnion nodes from output
processor. It is better practice to take the maximum value from all load cases (Sustained, operating,
design, upset, hydro etc)

After that we need to calculate the bending stress generated on the pipe shell based on the
following Kellogg equation:
Sb= (1.17 * f * R)/ (t^1.5) (1)

Here,
Sb=bending stress in pipe shell
R=Outside radius of pipe shell
t=Corroded pipe thickness (actual pipe thickness-corrosion allowance) plus thickness of re-enforcement
pad
f=loading per unit length
Now from Caesar we will get three forces with respect to each trunnion; longitudinal forces, circumferential
forces and axial forces. So accordingly we will have to calculate three f values as mentioned below:
Loading due to longitudinal bending, fL=ML/ ( r^2) (2)
Loading due to circumferential bending, fC=MC/ ( r^2) .. (3)
Loading due to axial force, fA=P/ (2 r).. (4)
Where,
ML=Longitudinal force obtained from Caesar * trunnion effective length
MC=Circumferential force obtained from Caesar output * trunnion effective length
P=direct axial force obtained from Caesar II output.
r=outside radius of trunnion.

Next step is to calculate all bending stresses using equation (1) for longitudinal (SL), axial (SA) and
circumferential (SC) forces as calculated from equation (2), (3) and (4).

Now calculate Longitudinal Pressure Stress (SLP=PD/4t) and Hoop Stress (SCP=PD/2t).

Now combine all these forces for proper load cases as shown below and compare the combined
value with allowable stress value (Normal industry practice is to take 1.5 times Sh value as the

allowable stress value where Sh is the basic allowable stress at design temperature from code
ASME B 31.3). If following conditions are satisfied, trunnion is assumed safe.
SL+ SA + SLP <= 1.5 * Sh
SC+ SA + SCP <= 1.5*Sh
And Trunnion Stress<=Sh